Minister for Economic Development (New Zealand)

The Minister for Economic Development is a minister in the New Zealand Government with the responsibility of promoting development of New Zealand's economy, and is in charge of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The position was established in 1999.

Minister for Economic Development
Incumbent
Melissa Lee
since 27 November 2023
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
StyleThe Honourable
Member of
Reports toPrime Minister of New Zealand
AppointerGovernor-General of New Zealand
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Formation10 December 1999
First holderJim Anderton
Salary$288,900[1]
Websitewww.beehive.govt.nz

The present minister is Melissa Lee.[2]

History

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At its establishment, the Minister for Economic Development was the lead minister for the Ministry of Economic Development, which was established out of the former Ministry of Commerce as part of the Labour-Alliance coalition agreement.[3]

From 1 July 2012, the Minister assumed responsibility for the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment following the merger of the Ministry of Economic Development with several other government agencies.[4]

The position was briefly renamed Minister for Economic and Regional Development after being merged with the standalone Regional Economic Development in 2020. In early 2023 the portfolio was split back into two, and its name reverted back to Minister for Economic Development.

Similar ministerial roles under previous governments include the Minister for Enterprise and Commerce (1998–1999), the Minister of Trade and Industry (1972–1988) and the Minister of Industries and Commerce (1894–1972).

List of ministers

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Key

  Alliance   Progressive   Labour   National

No. Name Portrait Term of office Prime Minister
1 Jim Anderton   10 December 1999 19 October 2005 Clark
2 Trevor Mallard   19 October 2005 2 November 2007
3 Pete Hodgson   2 November 2007 19 November 2008
4 Gerry Brownlee   19 November 2008 13 December 2011[A] Key
- David Carter
(Acting)[A]
  24 February 2011 13 December 2011
5 Steven Joyce   14 December 2011 20 December 2016
6 Simon Bridges   20 December 2016 26 October 2017 English
7 David Parker   26 October 2017 27 June 2019 Ardern
8 Phil Twyford   27 June 2019 6 November 2020
9 Stuart Nash   6 November 2020 28 March 2023[B]
Hipkins
Megan Woods   28 March 2023 12 April 2023
10 Barbara Edmonds   12 April 2023 27 November 2023
11 Melissa Lee   27 November 2023 present Luxon
A.^ Carter was appointed as Acting Minister of Economic Development following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and Brownlee's increased workload as Minister for Christchurch Earthquake Recovery (to which he had been appointed in September 2010 after the 2010 Christchurch earthquake).[5] However, Brownlee retained his warrant as Minister of Economic Development until after the 2011 general election.[6]
B.^ Stylised as Minister for Economic and Regional Development from 6 November 2020 to 1 February 2023.

References

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  1. ^ "Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Determination 2016" (PDF). Parliament.nz. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Ministerial List". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Editorial: What's in a new name?". New Zealand Herald. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  4. ^ Joyce, Steven; Coleman, Jonathan (24 April 2012). "MBIE to proceed from 1 July" (Press release). Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  5. ^ "PM reallocates portfolios to put focus on quake". Beehive.govt.nz. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Brownlee, Gerry". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
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